"I met with him a month ago and he basically talked to me about that situation, and he left me saying he was 100 percent a Knight," O'Leary said, alluding to rumors dating back to February that Smith was unhappy with his decision and planned to ask to be released from his letter of intent. "But every time he goes back to the Louisville area, it seems to be questionable what's taking place there.

"His mother did call me last night and expressed that they'd like a release and I told her no. And that if they have to do what they have to do as far as an appeal, they have to do that. But they're not getting a release from UCF."

O'Leary said he has never granted a release from a letter of intent and never plans to do so in the future.

Smith has the option to appeal UCF's decision to the National Letter of Intent board, citing extenuating circumstances. If the board denies his appeal, Smith will have to sit out one year before enrolling at another school on scholarship and will lose a year of eligibility. Instead of having five years to play four seasons of college football, he would have four years to play three seasons of college football.

"To me, you spend a lot of money, a lot of time, a lot of hours recruiting a kid," he said. "I think the big thing is you sign a legal document and that's what it is – a legal document. I've never in all my coaching given a release to an NLI and I'm not about to start. And he knew that. I told him that. Again, that's why they have such a stiff penalty for people that don't fulfill the NLI."

O'Leary said Smith's mother did not give a reason for seeking the release.

"Not really, except that that's what he really wants to go to Louisville," O'Leary said. "That's why you sit down, it's a long recruiting period. A letter was signed by him and his mom. Again, I think as a head coach of a Division I program, those letters are what commits a youngster to your program. Just like it commits us to them with a financial aid letter.

"Again, with us, as far as we're concerned it's out of our hands. If they file an appeal, it's not our decision. But our decision is not to grant a release and I would never grant a release in any situation, really."

UCF currently has three viable quarterbacks on its roster and may seek more walk-ons to bolster its depth before the start of next season.

For the first time since the start of spring practice, senior Rob Calabrese worked out at quarterback leading the third team offense Tuesday. Calabrese switched from quarterback to receiver during the offseason. O'Leary said Calabrese will continue to primarily play receiver, but the Knights will give him some work at quarterback so that he remains a viable third-string option.

"You look at it a couple of different ways," O'Leary said. "Now who is the victim cause we stopped recruiting quarterbacks when he basically let us know he was involved and he wanted to be here long before the National Signing Day? Again, we'll work fine. That's why I'm still giving Rob some reps today. There's a method to the madness."

On April 17, the Orlando Sentinel photo team snapped a shot of UCF football coach George O'Leary reacting to a play at home plate during the annual players vs. coaches softball game. A variety of reader-submitted memes and PhotoShop efforts followed.